US6018726A — Method of billing for information services in con…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 150 words

A billing system in radio communications comprising: a main unit having a host computer with a database for storing data of various types and a transceiver for radio communications, and a plurality of terminal units for receiving said data of various types, whereby said main unit transmits data tagged with a unique data identification code, each of the plurality of terminal units is provided with a utilization status counter for storing data identification codes of data actually processed, said terminal unit calculates an information service fee based on the data identification codes stored in the utilization status counter by referring to fee conversion data which the main unit transmits at regular intervals, said information service fee is sent to a fee conversion adaptor connected to said terminal unit, and a signal provided from the adaptor is used to control an integrating meter which indicates the consumed amount of a utility.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 150 words

A billing system in radio communications comprising: a main unit having a host computer with a database for storing data of various types and a transceiver for radio communications, and a plurality of terminal units for receiving said data of various types, whereby said main unit transmits data tagged with a unique data identification code, each of the plurality of terminal units is provided with a utilization status counter for storing data identification codes of data actually processed, said terminal unit calculates an information service fee based on the data identification codes stored in the utilization status counter by referring to fee conversion data which the main unit transmits at regular intervals, said information service fee is sent to a fee conversion adaptor connected to said terminal unit, and a signal provided from the adaptor is used to control an integrating meter which indicates the consumed amount of a utility.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 67 words

The billing system in radio communications according to claim 1, wherein said integrating meter is an AC watthour integrating meter, and said fee conversion adaptor converts said information service fee into an analog current that has a billable value which is equivalent to the billable value of the information service fee, and said integrating meter is driven by the analog current output by said fee conversion adaptor.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 66 words

The billing system in radio communications according to claim 1, wherein said integrating meter is a digital integrating wattmeter, and said fee conversion adaptor converts said information service fee into an analog current that has a billable value which is equivalent to the billable value of the information service fee, and said integrating meter is driven by a digital signal output by said fee conversion adaptor.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 70 words

The billing system in radio communications according to claim 1, wherein said integrating meter is a digital integrating gas meter, and said fee conversion adaptor converts said information service fee into a value that represents a volume of gas that has an billable value equivalent to the billable value of the information service fee, and said integrating meter is controlled by a digital signal output by said fee conversion adaptor.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 70 words

The billing system in radio communications according to claim 1, wherein said integrating meter is a digital integrating water meter, and said fee conversion adaptor converts said information service fee into a value that represents a volume of water that has an billable value equivalent to the billable value of the information service fee, and said integrating meter is controlled by a digital signal output by said fee conversion adaptor.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 183 words

A billing system in radio communications comprising: a main unit having a host computer with a database for storing data of various types and a transceiver for radio communications, and a plurality of terminal units for receiving said various types of data, whereby said main unit is coupled to said plurality of terminal units via both a radio link and a telephone line, each of said plurality of terminal units is provided with a digital integrating meter which measures the consumed amount of one or more utilities services, wherein each terminal unit is further provided with a memory for storing the consumed amount as consumption data, and each terminal unit is provided with means for uploading the consumption data stored in the memory to said main unit via the telephone line in response to a control signal which the main unit transmits as a satellite signal, and each terminal unit is provided with a delay means which determines the timing at which each of the plurality of terminal units accesses said main unit and each delay means provides a different delay time delay.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 183 words

A billing system in radio communications comprising: a main unit having a host computer with a database for storing data of various types and a transceiver for radio communications, and a plurality of terminal units for receiving said various types of data, whereby said main unit is coupled to said plurality of terminal units via both a radio link and a telephone line, each of said plurality of terminal units is provided with a digital integrating meter which measures the consumed amount of one or more utilities services, wherein each terminal unit is further provided with a memory for storing the consumed amount as consumption data, and each terminal unit is provided with means for uploading the consumption data stored in the memory to said main unit via the telephone line in response to a control signal which the main unit transmits as a satellite signal, and each terminal unit is provided with a delay means which determines the timing at which each of the plurality of terminal units accesses said main unit and each delay means provides a different delay time delay.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 40 words

The billing system in radio communications according to claim 6, wherein said main unit transmits toll value added information to said terminal unit via said radio link, and wherein said terminal unit has means for processing said value added information.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

The billing system in radio communications according to claim 6, wherein said radio link is a satellite link.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 31 words

The billing system in radio communications according to claim 7, wherein said terminal unit uploads a frequency of utilization of said value-added information and said consumption data to said main unit.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 31 words

The billing system in radio communications according to claim 7, wherein said terminal unit uploads the information service fee of said value-added information and said consumption data to said main unit.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 142 words

A method of billing for transmitted data comprising the steps of: transmitting data from a main unit to a plurality of terminal units, each of said data being tagged with a data identification code; storing the data identification codes of data received by each terminal unit in a utilization status counter of each terminal unit; transferring fee conversion data from said main unit to each terminal unit; calculating a service fee based on the stored data identification codes in the utilization status counter of each terminal unit by referring to said fee conversion data; converting said service fee into a signal at each terminal unit; and feeding said signal to an integrating meter at each terminal unit, wherein said signal indicates the consumed amount of a public utility, and wherein said indicated consumed amount is controlled at least partially by said signal.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 142 words

A method of billing for transmitted data comprising the steps of: transmitting data from a main unit to a plurality of terminal units, each of said data being tagged with a data identification code; storing the data identification codes of data received by each terminal unit in a utilization status counter of each terminal unit; transferring fee conversion data from said main unit to each terminal unit; calculating a service fee based on the stored data identification codes in the utilization status counter of each terminal unit by referring to said fee conversion data; converting said service fee into a signal at each terminal unit; and feeding said signal to an integrating meter at each terminal unit, wherein said signal indicates the consumed amount of a public utility, and wherein said indicated consumed amount is controlled at least partially by said signal.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 145 words

A method of billing for services comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of terminal units, wherein each terminal unit measures the consumed amount of a utility, and each terminal unit receives various types of data from a main unit; storing said consumed amount in each terminal unit; providing a control signal from said main unit to said terminal units; and in response to receipt of said control signal, each terminal unit uploading said stored consumed amount from each terminal unit to said main unit, wherein said each terminal unit is provided with delay means which determines the timing at which each of the plurality of terminal units uploads said consumed amount to said main unit, and wherein each delay means provides a different time delay to its associated terminal unit such that each terminal unit uploads to said main unit at a different time.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 145 words

A method of billing for services comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of terminal units, wherein each terminal unit measures the consumed amount of a utility, and each terminal unit receives various types of data from a main unit; storing said consumed amount in each terminal unit; providing a control signal from said main unit to said terminal units; and in response to receipt of said control signal, each terminal unit uploading said stored consumed amount from each terminal unit to said main unit, wherein said each terminal unit is provided with delay means which determines the timing at which each of the plurality of terminal units uploads said consumed amount to said main unit, and wherein each delay means provides a different time delay to its associated terminal unit such that each terminal unit uploads to said main unit at a different time.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 12 wherein said main unit can communicate with said terminal units by both a radio link and a telephone line.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-01-24	2003-07-26	2004-01-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-01-24	2007-07-26	2008-01-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-01-24	2011-07-26	2012-01-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method of billing for information services in conjunction with utilities service

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